Selecting modules for a wireless communication device for optimal performance

ABSTRACT

A desired functionality expected for a wireless communication device may be accepted. Modules of the wireless communication device may be selected to achieve the desired functionality. Modules may include antennas, processors, and processing techniques.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a continuation of U.S. application Ser. No.13/848,198 filed Mar. 21, 2013, which is a continuation of U.S.application Ser. No. 13/607,104 filed Sep. 7, 2012, and issued as U.S.Pat. No. 8,442,592 on May 14, 2013, which is a continuation of U.S.application Ser. No. 10/695,932 filed Oct. 29, 2003 which issued as U.S.Pat. No. 8,306,574 on Nov. 6, 2012, which applications are fullyincorporated herein by reference.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

This invention relates generally to wireless communication systems. Moreparticularly, it relates to a method and system for adapting a wirelesscommunication system to provide a desired functionality and to optimizeeconomic benefit by varying one or more of a number of components orprocessing techniques.

2. Description of the Related Art

Recently, the market for wireless communications has enjoyed tremendousgrowth. Wireless technology now reaches or is capable of reachingvirtually every location on the face of the earth. Hundreds of millionsof people exchange information every day using pagers, cellulartelephones and other wireless communication products.

With the appearance of inexpensive, high-performance products based onthe IEEE 802.11a/b/g Wireless Fidelity (Wi-Fi) standard, acceptance ofwireless local area networks (WLANs) for home, Small Office Home Office(SOHO) and enterprise applications has increased significantly. IEEE802.11b/g is a standard for a wireless, radio-based system. It operatesin the unlicensed 2.4 GHz band at speeds up to 11 M bits/sec for IEEE802.11b and 54 M bits/sec for IEEE 802.11g. The IEEE 802.11b/gspecification sets up 11 channels within the 2.4 GHz to 2.4835 GHzfrequency band which is the unlicensed band for industrial, scientificand medical (ISM) applications. IEEE 802.11a is another standard for awireless, radio-based system in the ISM band. It operates in theunlicensed 5-GHz band at speeds up to 54 M bits/sec.

It has been found that WLANs often fall short of the expected operatingrange when actually deployed. For example, although a wireless AccessPoint (AP) is specified by a vendor as having an operating range of 300feet, the actual operating range can vary widely depending on theoperating environment.

In particular, WLAN performance can be greatly degraded by direct andmultipath radio interference. Multipath occurs in wireless environmentsbecause the radio frequency (RF) signal transmitted by the subscriber isreflected from physical objects present in the environment such asbuildings. As a result, it undergoes multiple reflections, refractions,diffusions and attenuations. The base station receives a sum of thedistorted versions of the signal (collectively called multipath).

Similarly, in any indoor wireless system, multipath interference effectsoccur when the transmitted signal is reflected from objects such aswalls, furniture, and other indoor objects. As a result of multipath,the signal can have multiple copies of itself, all of which arrive atthe receiver at different moments in time. Thus, from the receiver'spoint of view, it receives multiple copies of the same signal with manydifferent signal strengths or powers and propagation delays. Theresultant combined signal can have significant fluctuation in power.This phenomenon is called fading.

Unlike all other parts of the radio spectrum, a license is not requiredto operate a transmitter in the ISM bands specified in IEEE 802.11a/b/g.In exchange for this license-free environment, users implementing theIEEE 802.11b/g and IEEE 802.11a standards are subject to interferencefrom other users of the bands. The 2.4 to 2.4835 GHz ISM band isparticularly sensitive to interference because it is populated withnumerous wireless networking products such as Bluetooth systems, HomeRFsystems, IEEE 802.11b WLAN devices, microwave ovens, and cordless phonesthat can result in significant interference. This interference is theresult of a myriad of incompatible data transmission techniques,uncoordinated usage of spectrum, and over-subscription of the availablespectrum.

Many devices operating in the 2.4 to 2.4835 GHz ISM band can either beclassified as direct sequence spread spectrum (DSSS) or frequencyhopping spread spectrum (FHSS) systems. The DSSS data transmissionscheme is used primarily by IEEE 802.11b systems. FHSS systems, such asBluetooth devices, differ from DSSS systems in their implementation foravoiding interference. FHSS systems avoid interference with othertransmission signals in the same band by hopping over many differentfrequency channels. To provide FHSS systems with more bandwidth, theUnited States Federal Government Federal Communications Commission (FCC)has allowed FHSS systems to operate at wider bandwidths. The operationof FHSS systems at wider bandwidths has the potential to increaseinterference between DSSS and FHSS products. The interference level ofnarrowband FHSS systems on DSSS transmission has already been found tobe severe.

There are additional elements of performance degradation in a network of802.11b/g WLAN access points (APs). Since the 802.11b/g channelbandwidth is approximately 16 MHz, only three non-overlapping channelsoperating in proximity can be accommodated without interfering with oneanother. The channel re-use factor imposes a severe restriction onimplementation of 802.11b/g based systems which requires significantlymore effort in the network deployment, and increases the chances ofinterference and packet collision especially within an environment witha dense user cluster, such as in an office building.

Several approaches for improving the operating performance and range ina fading environment have been suggested. In one conventional approach,selection antenna diversity is used to reduce the effect of multipathfading. Multiple antennas are located in different locations or employdifferent polarizations. As long as the antennas have adequateseparation in space or have a different polarization, the signalarriving at different antennas experiences independent fading. Combining(or selection) is performed at a dedicated receiver for an antenna or ata receiver used for multiple antennas to improve the quality of receivedsignals. Each antenna can have a dedicated receiver or multiple antennascan share the same receiver.

In another conventional approach, signal combining is used to provideimproved performance in a fading environment. Signal combiningtechniques employ multiple spatially separated and/or orthogonallypolarized antennas. The received signal is obtained by combining thesignals from the multiple antennas. One technique for providing optimalsignal quality is known as maximal ratio combining (MRC). Anothercombining technique that maximizes the outputsignal-to-interference-plus-noise ratio is known as minimum mean squareerror (MMSE) combining.

The signals can be combined in the combining techniques based on aweighting scheme. Weights used in combining techniques can be generatedwith blind and non-blind techniques. In non-blind techniques, thereceived signal is demodulated and data sequences in the received signalare used to determine the portion that is the desired signal and theportion that is noise and interference. The demodulated signal is usedto determine the combining weights through correlation with the receivedsignals. In blind techniques, a property of the signal is used todistinguish it from interference and noise. In one approach, a constantmodulus algorithm (CMA) is used to take advantage of a signal propertyof a constant signal envelope in order to generate a set of antennaweights such that the constant envelope property can be maintained.Signal combining techniques typically achieve better performance thanthe selection diversity antenna approaches at the expense of addedimplementation complexity.

Another known approach to achieve performance improvement is throughequalization, either in the time or frequency domain. In this technique,the multipaths arriving at the receiver are delayed, phase shifted, andamplitude scaled before they are combined (equalized).

U.S. Pat. No. 6,167,283 describes optimization of selection of a cell ina cellular radio system where there are available cells of differentcapabilities and/or where the capability of a terminal to make use ofdifferent services of the cells varies from one terminal to another. Forexample, the cells can provide different services based on the maximumbit rate offered by the base station. A prediction is produced aboutwhat kind of service level will be needed in the next connection betweena terminal and a base station. A cell is selected such that the servicelevel offered by the base station corresponds to the prediction producedby the terminal.

U.S. Pat. No. 6,134,453 describes an omni-modal wireless product whichis adaptive to the selectively variable desires of the end user. Theproduct is capable of utilizing any one of wireless data services withina given geographical area based on a user defined criteria. The userdefined criteria can include the cost of sending a data message usingthe wireless communication network, the quality of transmission link inthe wireless communication network (signal strength, interference actualor potential), the potential for being dropped by the wirelesscommunication system, and the security of wireless communicationnetwork. An adaptive control circuit is used for determining whichwireless communications networks are available at a given location andtime, for accessing a selected wireless communication network, forcommunicating with the selected wireless communication network todetermine on a real time basis the operating characteristics of thewireless communication network, and for generating a frequency controlsignal and a protocol control signal in response to the user definedcriteria to cause the device to communicate with the selected wirelesscommunication network using the frequencies and modulation protocolsuitable for transmission of the signal information over the selectedwireless communications network. The frequency control signal and theprotocol control signal are generated by comparing operatingcharacteristics of the selected wireless communication network with theuser defined criteria.

U.S. Pat. No. 6,246,870 describes a method for controlling expenseincurred by a communications terminal that communicates with a firstmobile radio-telephone communications system and a second mobileradio-telephone communication system by selecting the radio-telephonecommunication system which provides economic efficiencies in aparticular mode of operation. More specifically, expenses incurred by acommunications terminal that communicates with a first mobileradiotelephone system and a second mobile radiotelephone system arecontrolled by storing first and second critical values whichcharacterize a tariff structure of the respective first and secondmobile radiotelephone communication systems. Communications units usedby the communications terminal are measured. An economic efficiencyassociated with use of the terminal to communicate with the first andsecond mobile radiotelephone communications systems is determined fromthe measured communications units and the first and second storedcritical values. Measures are initiated to control communications usagewith the first and second radiotelephone communications systems by theterminal based on the determined economic efficiency.

While some of the above-described patents have been concerned withoptimization of a wireless network system based on selection of awireless network providing certain characteristics, none of theabove-described patents are concerned with optimization of economicvalue to an end user by altering the complexity of the wireless networksystem based on the end user's desires.

It is desirable to provide a wireless communication system that can beadaptively configured to provide performance selected by the end userwhile providing an optimization of an economic benefit to the end user,such as one or more of range extension, multipath mitigation andinterference suppression.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a method and system for adapting awireless communication system to support a desired functionality of thewireless communication system at an optimized performance and economicbenefit. The desired functionality can be determined by defined criteriasuch as a maximum range of communication with the wireless communicationsystem, quality of a transmission link in the wireless communicationsystem, capacity of the wireless communication system, power consumptionof the wireless communication system, protocols supported in thewireless communication system, modulation techniques used in thewireless communication system and processing techniques for combiningsignals in the wireless communication system. The system can be adaptedby varying one or more of the number of components, power consumption orprocessing techniques used in the wireless communication system.

In one embodiment, the adapted wireless communication system isdetermined by adapting the number of antennas used at a transmitter orreceiver and/or the number of RF chains used at a transmitter orreceiver for providing the desired quality of transmission link,capacity and power consumption of the wireless communication system. Theadapted wireless communication system can also include selectiondiversity for multipath mitigation. Selection diversity can be used witha determined number of antennas of the wireless communication system.Processing techniques for modulation and combining signals and protocolsused in the adapted wireless communication system are selected tosupport the desired functionality. Accordingly, the wirelesscommunication system can be adapted to achieve a desired functionalityat an optimized cost by providing only the features that are needed tosupport the desired functionality.

The adaptive wireless communication system has the advantages of beingcapable of providing a varied operating range in a multipathenvironment, a varied ability to suppress interference, a varied levelof power consumption and a varied cost. The adaptive wirelesscommunication system is compatible with existing WLAN systems.

The invention will be more fully described by reference to the followingdrawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a flow diagram of a method for adapting a wirelesscommunication system for optimization of economic benefit.

FIG. 2 is a flow diagram of a method for implementing a feature of FIG.1.

FIG. 3 is a schematic diagram of a system for adapting a wirelesscommunication system based on optimization of economic benefit.

FIG. 4 is a schematic diagram of an implementation of an RF chain foruse in the wireless communication system.

FIG. 5 is a schematic diagram of a system for adapting a wirelesscommunication system including transmission.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Reference will now be made in greater detail to a preferred embodimentof the invention, an example of which is illustrated in the accompanyingdrawings. Wherever possible, the same reference numerals will be usedthroughout the drawings and the description to refer to the same or likeparts.

FIG. 1 is a block diagram of a method for adapting a wirelesscommunication system based on optimization of economic benefit. In block12, a selection of desired functionality is performed. For example, theselection can be performed by a supplier of a wireless network system, avendor of a wireless network product or an end user of a wirelessnetwork system. Criteria defining the functionality of the wirelesscommunication system can include: the maximum range of communicationswithin the wireless communication system; the quality of a transmissionlink in the wireless communication system, resulting from one or more ofrange extension, multipath mitigation and interference suppression;capacity of the wireless communication system, power consumption of thewireless communication system, protocols supported in the wirelesscommunication system, modulation techniques used in the wirelesscommunication system, processing techniques for combining signals in thewireless communication system, criteria which a vendor or end user couldvariably program into a wireless communication system or any one or morecombinations of the above criteria.

In block 14, the wireless communication system is adapted to support theselected functionality while optimizing economic benefit. The wirelesscommunication system can be adapted by modifying the complexity of asmart antenna chip or chip set by turning on or off functions of thechip or chip set and selection of processing techniques used with theantenna chip or chip set such that a vendor or user can purchase orlicense only the functions needed for achieving the desiredfunctionality. Accordingly, the wireless communication system can beadapted to achieve a desired performance at an optimized cost andcomplexity.

An implementation of block 14 is shown in FIG. 2. In block 20, areference design of a smart antenna chip or chip set is determinedhaving a maximum number of RF antennas at the transmitter or receiver, amaximum number of RF chains at the transmitter or receiver, maximumpower consumption and processing techniques for implementing maximumfunctionality. In block 22, the reference design is adapted to supportthe desired functionality. For example, the number of RF antennas at thetransmitter or receiver can be adapted by turning on or off each of theantennas in order to support the desired functionality. Additionally,the number of RF chains at the transmitter or receiver can be adapted byturning on or off each of the RF chains in order to support the desiredfunctionality.

In addition, antenna selection diversity techniques can be used with apre-determined number of RF antennas in order to support the desiredfunctionality by improving overall system performance with fewer RFchains than antennas. For example, system performance is improved byrange extension, multipath mitigation and interference suppression.Suitable antenna diversity can be provided by several techniques,including one or more of spatial diversity, beam diversity, polarizationdiversity, angular diversity, pattern diversity and other conventionaldiversity techniques. The diversity techniques can be used either at thereceiver or transmitter or both.

Power consumption can be adapted in the reference design byimplementation of one or more features of varying the number of RFchains, varying the number of antenna elements and varying the powercontrol algorithm. For example, the reference design can be adapted toprovide a selected functionality of low power consumption by reducingthe number of RF chains of the transmitter or receiver. Alternatively,the reference design can be adapted to provide the selectedfunctionality of low power consumption by increasing the number of RFchains at the receiver to provide a higher signal to noise ratio andhigher transmit data rate such that the total transmit time can bereduced, thereby reducing power consumption. The power control algorithmcan be selected from an open loop power control algorithm, closed looppower control algorithm or other available power control algorithmsknown in the art. Open loop power control adjusts the transmitted poweraccording to the received signal quality. Closed loop power controltransmits received signal quality data to allow the sender to adjust thetransmit power. The diversity, combining gain or interferencesuppression techniques can be selected to be independent of process,temperature and component variations.

The reference design also can be adapted to support the desiredfunctionality by selection of the processing techniques to be used forprocessing and/or combining signals from one or multiple antennas. Forexample, processing techniques can be blind techniques (that do notrequire training sequences) or non-blind techniques (that may requiretraining). Suitable processing techniques include one or more of maximalratio combining (MRC), equal-gain combining, minimum mean square error(MMSE) combining and other conventional processing techniques availablein the art.

In block 24, the performance and cost of the adapted reference designare determined. For example, the performance can be determined bymeasuring the quality of a signal generated by the adapted referencedesign according to techniques known in the art of wirelesscommunications. Suitable quality measurements can be made using receivedsignal power, baseband eye opening, color code correlation and cyclicredundancy checking (CRC). For example, the cost of the adaptedreference design can be determined by combining the costs of theindividual components and connections selected in the reference design,as well as processing costs. In block 26, it is determined if thedetermined performance and cost have been optimized to satisfy thedesired functionality selected in block 12. If the determinedperformance and cost do not satisfy the selected desired functionality,blocks 24 through 26 are repeated. If the determined performance andcost satisfy the selected functionality, the adapted reference design isprovided and can be used for implementing the adaptive wirelesscommunication system.

FIG. 3 is a schematic diagram of an implementation of a system forproviding an adaptive wireless communication system. An adaptivewireless communication system of least complexity which can be used tosupport desired functionality comprises antenna 31 a at a receiver whichis coupled to RF chain 32 a. It will be appreciated that the leastcomplex system typically provides a wireless communication system havinga lowest cost. It is noted that the antenna can be a singleomnidirectional antenna, single sector antenna or an array of multipleomnidirectional or sector antennas. RF chain 32 a receives a signal fromantenna 31 a. The selected signal is preferably frequency downconvertedand analog to digital (A/D) converted by the RF chain. The RF chain maycontain multistage frequency downconverters. RF chains are well known inthe art and the term RF chain is used in this disclosure to encompassany component or components used at least for downconverting andpossibly (not necessarily) A/D converting. RF chain 32 a feeds intoprocessor 33. Processor 33 uses one or more processing techniques 34a-34 n to provide signal output 35 that is demodulated and decoded intobits to estimate the transmitted signal. Processor 33 can also includemodules for implementing optimization of performance and costs describedabove in blocks 24-26 by receiving, storing and comparing informationrelated to quality measurements of the adapted reference design.

An example of RF chain 32 is shown in FIG. 4. The signal received byantenna 31 is applied to low noise amplifier (LNA) 100 where it isamplified to an amplitude suitable for subsequent processing. Theamplified signal is applied to band pass filter (BPF) 102 to limit thesignal to a particular frequency band of the received signal and rejectout of band RF signals. BPF 102 can be fixed, tuned or tunable and thebandwidth will be designed as appropriate to system design requirementsand constraints. The filtered signal is applied to multiplier 104.Multiplier 104 applies weights established by processing techniques 34a-34 n. Output from multiplier 104 is applied to analog to digitalconverter 106 to convert the signal to a representative digital signalwhich can be processed by processor 33.

Referring to FIG. 3, if it is found that the above-described system forproviding an adaptive wireless network does not provide the desiredfunctionality, an adapted wireless communication system of an increasedcomplexity system to support the desired functionality with optimizedeconomic benefit can be established including one or more additionalantennas 31 b-31 n. Antennas 31 b-31 n are respectively coupled to RFchains 32 b-32 n. In this embodiment, each antenna 31 a-31 n isassociated with its own respective RF chain 32 a-32 n. In alternateembodiments, each RF chain 32 a-32 n can be associated with more thanone antenna 31 a-31 n through the use of selection diversity asdescribed below (as in diversity selection module 38/37). Typically, 2to 4 antennas are used in wireless communication systems.

Select RF chains module 36 can dynamically select one or more of RFchains 32 a-32 n. Select RF chains module 36 can select the RF chainsbased on a signal received from respective antennas 31 a-31 n based, forexample, on having the highest power. For example, select RF chainsmodule 36 can compare the power of the antennas associated with each ofthe RF chains to select two antennas having the highest power. RF chainsmodule 36 can activate a switch (not shown) for dynamically turning onand off RF chains 32 a-32 n. The output of the RF chains selected by RFchains module 36 can be combined in combiner 42 using weightsestablished by one or more processing algorithms 34 a-34 n. For example,processing algorithms 34 a-34 n can include MRC, equal-gain combining,minimum mean square error (MMSE) combining and other conventionalprocessing techniques known in the art to provide antenna weights to beused in combining the signals from the RF chains. The antenna weightsused with the associated antennas of selected RF chains can bedetermined by processing algorithms 34 a-34 n.

In one embodiment, the number of RF processing chains is selected toprovide the desired power consumption. For example, if the receivedpower is high enough, only one antenna and RF chain can be activated.Alternatively, if the received power falls into a range requiringmultiple antennas, multiple antennas and multiple RF chains areactivated. In another embodiment, multiple RF chains are used to providea higher SNR which permits a higher transmit data rate and thereforereduces the total transmit time, thereby decreasing total powerconsumption for a given transmitted number of bits.

In an alternate embodiment, the system for providing an adaptivewireless network to support the desired functionality can includeselection/combining diversity. Select diversity module 37 is activatedto select diversity 38 to be used with a plurality of antennas 31 a-31n. Selection/combining diversity can include techniques for selection ofantennas and combining of selected antennas. Output of RF chains 39 a-39n associated with the plurality of antennas 31 a-31 n selected bydiversity 38 can be combined in combiner 43 using weights established byone or more processing algorithms 34 a-34 n. RF chains 39 a-39 n operatesimilarly to RF chains 32 a-32 n. Selection/combining diversity can beused in combination with the RF chains selection technique describedabove, such that the number of RF chains, 39 a-31 n, is selected tosupport the desired functionality.

The adaptive techniques of the present invention are also applicable tosignal transmission. The system of the present invention is particularlywell suited for use in time division duplex systems, as defined in IEEE802.11. The best antennas/beampatterns for reception can be oftenassociated with the best antennas/beampatterns for transmission.Transmission electronics 50 can be associated with processor 33 andselect RF chains module 36 to connect selected antennas 31 a-31 n duringtransmission using weights established by one or more processingalgorithms 34 a-34 n, as shown in FIG. 5. It will be appreciated thateach selected RF chain requires power even if transmitted signal powerwith the associated RF chain is very low. The desired power consumptioncan be provided by selecting a reduced number of RF chains fortransmission even though more transmit power may be required in theselected RF chains. Furthermore, the selected RF chains can be connectedto any of the antennas 31 a-31 n using the selection diversity techniqueas described above for reception.

It is to be understood that the above-described embodiments areillustrative of only a few of the many possible specific embodimentswhich can represent applications of the principles of the invention.Numerous and varied other arrangements can be readily devised inaccordance with these principles by those skilled in the art withoutdeparting from the spirit and scope of the invention.

1. A method for optimizing a wireless communication device comprising:accepting a desired functionality expected for the wirelesscommunication device; selecting a plurality of modules of the wirelesscommunication device to achieve the desired functionality, wherein theselected modules include one or more of: a plurality of antennas; atleast a first processing module and a second processing module, whereinthe first processing module is implemented with a single processingtechnique, the second processing module is implemented with at leastfirst and second processing techniques, the first processing techniquein the second processing module is selected while the second processingtechnique in the second processing module is not selected.
 2. A wirelesscommunication device comprising: a plurality of antennas; a plurality ofprocessing modules; a processor, in responding to a desiredfunctionality expected from the wireless communication device,configured to determine a selection for an optimized performance of thewireless communication device for the functionality, wherein theselection includes one or more of the antennas, at least a first moduleand a second module, the first module is implemented with a singleprocessing technique, the second module is implemented with at leastfirst and second processing techniques, the first processing techniquein the second module is selected with the selection while the secondprocessing technique is not used in the selection.
 3. The wirelesscommunication device as recited in claim 2, wherein a selection of thedesired functionality is made by a supplier of the wirelesscommunication device, a vendor of a wireless network product or an enduser of the wireless communication device.
 4. The wireless communicationdevice as recited in claim 3, wherein the first and second processingtechniques are blind techniques or non-blind techniques.
 5. The wirelesscommunication device as recited in claim 3, wherein the functionalityincludes one or more of: a maximum range the wireless communicationreaches, a quality of a transmission link the wireless communicationdevice establishes with another device, an ability of providingmultipath mitigation and interference suppression, a desired capacity ofthe wireless communication device, a desired power consumption of thewireless communication device, one of protocols supported in thewireless communication device, one of modulation techniques used in thewireless communication device, and one of processing techniques forcombining signals received in the wireless communication device.
 6. Thewireless communication device as recited in claim 2, wherein theselection is optimized by providing selected features that are onlyneeded to support the desired functionality.
 7. The wirelesscommunication device as recited in claim 5, wherein some of theprocessing modules are integrated circuits, and the processor isconfigured to modify a complexity of antenna integrated circuits byturning on or off some functions of the integrated circuits and aselection of processing techniques used with the antenna integratedcircuits such that a vendor or user of the wireless communication deviceneeds only to purchase or license functions needed for achieving thedesired functionality.
 8. The wireless communication device as recitedin claim 6, wherein the selection is so determined that the wirelesscommunication device is capable of providing a varied operating range ina multipath environment.
 9. The wireless communication device as recitedin claim 8, wherein each of the single processing technique, the firstand second processing techniques is related to a maximal ratio combining(MRC) technique, equal-gain combining technique, a minimum mean squareerror (MMSE) combining technique.
 10. The wireless communication deviceas recited in claim 7, wherein the selection includes at least two ofthe antennas.
 11. The wireless communication device as recited in claim10, wherein each of the antennas is associated with a RF chain, the atleast two of the antennas are selected through selection diversity basedon a signal received from each of the antennas.
 12. The wirelesscommunication device as recited in claim 11, wherein the at least two ofthe antennas are selected to provide a desired power consumption. 13.The wireless communication device as recited in claim 12, wherein whenthe received signal falls into a range requiring multiple antennas, theat least two antennas are activated to provide a higher signal-to-noiseratio (SNR).
 14. The wireless communication device as recited in claim6, wherein the selection is so determined that the wirelesscommunication device is able to suppress signal interference.
 15. Thewireless communication device as recited in claim 6, wherein theselection is so determined that the wireless communication device iscontrolled to have a varied level of power consumption.
 16. The wirelesscommunication device as recited in claim 2, wherein the adaptivewireless communication device is compatible with existing wireless localarea network (WLAN).